A Kodachrome heirloom

This photo of a homesteader’s garden in Pie Town, New Mexico, September 1940, was taken by Russell Lee, a photographer of the Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information. It was part of a 2006 Library of Congress exhibition of early color images taken between 1939 and 1943, “Bound for Glory: America in Color.” Thanks to links by Studio G and The Denver Post.

Click this link to see a larger version or to buy a print. Click here to see another view of the same homesteader’s garden.

11 thoughts on “A Kodachrome heirloom”

I’m trying to see what she is growing — definitely petunias, maybe roses or small dahlias? Is that an ornamental white-flowered nicotiana or just regular tobacco? I wonder if any of these dugout houses are still standing?

Cindy, thanks for bringing back memories! I spent a year at the Library of Congress Prints & Photographs section, working a on a fantastic catalogue from photographer Frances Benjamin Johnston’s estate. http://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/fbj/
I also work on FSA catalogues and they are faboulous heritage. Johnson’s work on architecture and gardens inspired me somehow, about taking gardeing photography.
Fantastic post, thanks!